Atari Lynx (Model I & Model II)
Lynx I (PAG-0201 / C104000) & Lynx II (PAG-0401 / C104471) — 16-Bit Mikey + Suzy colour handheld mainboards
Complete Diagnostic Flowchart: Game Boy DMG-01 & Game Gear DC-DC Bias & LCD Ribbon Isolation (Nintendo Game Boy DMG-01 & Sega Game Gear VA1)
Summary
The Atari Lynx suffers a catastrophic power regulator design flaw: instead of a linear 7805, it uses a 4069 hex inverter, a 5.1V Zener diode (D13), and a MOSFET (Q12) to step 9V down to +5V. If D13 or Q12 fails, the full +9V battery/adapter rail is dumped straight into the irreplaceable custom Mikey and Suzy chips!
Interactive Bench Oscilloscope — Verify Pre- & Post-Recap Waveforms
Open Full Signal Visualizer →Click any test point below to compare a healthy recapped rail or clock against high-ESR electrolytic capacitor ripple and droop:
Safety & Warnings
CRITICAL: Test +5V at the headphone/ComLynx port or install the Q12/D13 Power Rebuild Kit!
Before powering on an unknown Atari Lynx with a cartridge inserted, replace Q12 (Si9400 / Si4936DY on Lynx II) and D13 (1N5231B 5.1V Zener) along with the electrolytic capacitors so +9V never reaches Mikey and Suzy!
Is This Your Board?
- Lynx Model I (PAG-0201) is the long original case with radial miniature capacitors.
- Lynx Model II (PAG-0401) is the compact rubber-grip case using surface-mount electrolytic cans.
Verified rows are agreed by two or more independent sources. Check rows are revision-dependent or single-sourced — confirm the value against your own board before ordering.
Atari Lynx II Mainboard (PAG-0401 / C104471)
| Ref | Value | Voltage | Type | Function | Notes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C39 |
220 uF | 16 V | Radial | +9V DC input primary reservoir | Verified | |
C41 |
470 uF | 10 V | Radial | +5V regulated main rail reservoir | Critical filter after Q12 MOSFET. | Verified |
C40 |
10 uF | 25 V | SMD | 4069 power-on latch timing | Verified | |
C27 / C28 |
100 uF | 10 V | SMD | Headphone Left/Right stereo output coupling | Verified | |
C31 |
47 uF | 16 V | SMD | Internal speaker amplifier coupling | Verified | |
C51 |
22 uF | 35 V | SMD | LCD negative bias & backlight inverter filter | Verified |
Extra Parts (not failure items)
These are not electrolytic recap candidates. They are listed because the kit vendors include them for a known modification or fix — do not replace them as part of a routine recap.
| Ref | Value | Voltage | Type | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Q12 + D13 + U6 |
MOSFET + 5.1V Zener + CD4069UB | 5.1 V | Power Regulator Rebuild Kit | Mandatory Over-Voltage Protection Rebuild | Always replace D13 (5.1V Zener) and Q12 MOSFET when recapping a Lynx I or II. |
Atari Lynx II Mainboard (PAG-0401 / C104471) — shopping list
- 1 x 220 uF 16 V Radial
- 1 x 470 uF 10 V Radial
- 1 x 10 uF 25 V SMD
- 1 x 100 uF 10 V SMD
- 1 x 47 uF 16 V SMD
- 1 x 22 uF 35 V SMD
Recap Tips
- Remember that an Atari Lynx WILL NOT power on without a game cartridge inserted (two pins on the cartridge bridge the ground path for the power-on circuit)!
Related Symptoms
- Refuses to turn on when pressing ON button (even with cartridge inserted) Failed 4069 hex inverter (U6), shorted Q12 MOSFET, or torn power button membrane.
Sources & References
- Console5 TechWiki - Atari Lynx I & II Lynx I and II capacitor and power rebuild schedules.